Naryn (22-24.07.2013)

DSCN7853 cpy  Cover photo 2013-07-22 10.10.06  Naryn is at least three mountain ranges south of Bishkek and the best way to get there is via helicopter 2013-07-22 11.14.53  This first thing we discovered was the excavations for the new campus had revealed many burial sites dating back thousands of years 2013-07-22 11.15.24  It was clear on the ground that these sites were numerous
2013-07-22 11.16.37  An archaelogist was hired to excavate the sites 2013-07-22 11.05.21  some of which still had human remains, which had however been looted already long ago DSCN0001  We adjourned to a nearby hill top for picnic lunch and a panoramic view DSCN0002  Panorama 2
DSCN0003  Panorama 3 DSCN0004  Panorama 4 DSCN0005  Panorama 5 DSCN0006  Panorama 6
DSCN0007  Panorama 7 DSCN0008  Panorama 8: looking E up the Naryn River, over the arch site, with the "red"  mountain on the left DSCN0009  Panorama 9: and the "blue" mountain on the right, two utterly different compositions DSCN0010  Panorama 10
DSCN7743  Winding road up toward the "blue" mountain DSCN7744  Looking down from our perch on the hilltop DSCN7745  Looking W down river to the irrigated river valley DSCN7748  Picnic 1
DSCN7746  Picnic 2 DSCN7747  Good coverage here! DSCN7749  Our ride awaits us DSCN7750  We visited the Naryn office of the hydro-met service
DSCN7751  which is located just below the red mountain DSCN7753  Discussing the measurements that they make DSCN7754  During what past decade would the technology portrayed here (punch tape?) have been considered modern? ( I remember using it in the early 1970's) DSCN7755  The salon at the UCA guest house!
DSCN7757  I loved the rugs- made in Turkey and very well done! DSCN7758  You could tell that India wasn't that far away DSCN7762  Irrigated farmland: the Soviets invested heavily here I would guess DSCN7763  I saw this and thought "Nevada, 1935"
DSCN7764  We were here to observe a meeting with villagers about impacts from climate change DSCN7766  Local transit DSCN7767  and what become iconic for me: a two-part power pole, held together by thick steel wire cinched tight by twisting with a crow bar DSCN7769  The local ladies showing up for the meeting
DSCN7770  Chad applying sun screen, somewhat to the disbelief of locals DSCN7773  an impromptu group photo in front of the meeting venue DSCN7774  A few men were there DSCN7776  but there were more women and old men
DSCN7777  old man and women DSCN7778  literacy is very high in both genders in Kyrgyzstan (thanks to the Soviets!) so the ladies were studying the handouts DSCN7779  while the next generation cavorted DSCN7782  They were very quiet!
DSCN7783  The ladies study on... DSCN7784  the ladies regroup DSCN7785  others had more important things to do, like run away! DSCN7788  Village setting
DSCN7789  We moved the meeting to the school house as there didn't seem to be electricity at the municipal meeting room. DSCN7790  We used a little theater with a typical Kyrgyz scene of mountains and horses as backdrop DSCN7792  I was very impressed by the project staff who adapted to the change in venue and charged forward. DSCN7795  Then they created break-out groups to discuss different topics
DSCN7799  and once again the ladies took over, in the case as scribes in Russian DSCN7800  The villagers pondering with a project staffer backing them up DSCN7801  faces of Central Asia DSCN7802  multiple generations offering their perspectives
DSCN7803  it was fun to see the "western" group process applied in a different setting DSCN7806  The ladies presented the results DSCN7808  Central Asia DSCN7809  Central Asia
DSCN7811  we then segued into a midday meal - another reason for good turn out? DSCN7812  mid day in the Kyrgyz Republic in the middle of Ramadan..not so pious here! DSCN7813  there was a table for the boys DSCN7814  who acted like boys as Chad conferred with project staff
DSCN7815  Central Asian sky with carved dolmen in a small park in the school yard DSCN7817  we then drove to the other side of Naryn town to visit some protected areas up river DSCN7818  landscape DSCN7819  It became greener as we gained elevation
DSCN7820  After an hour or so, we arrived here which seemed to indicate the direction to one of the protected areas DSCN7821  looking back along the road to the higher mountains DSCN7824  scattered around the landscape were these isolated necropoli DSCN7826  the road took us up over a ridge
DSCN7827  where we crossed paths with acquaintances of our driver DSCN7829  they had been over at the deer farm drinking kumis, fermented mare's milk, so we had to stop for a smoke DSCN7830  what we looked at DSCN7832  the road dropped down into the next drainage
DSCN7833  twisty road DSCN7834  with free range cow at the bottom DSCN7835  there was some kind of tourist concession established there DSCN7836  with yurts and a swing, which could be fun after a lot of kumis, I guess
DSCN7836 bis  yurt and road DSCN7837  we interviewed the manager of the concession DSCN7839  who seemed to be doing well! DSCN7840  One could stay in the yurts
DSCN7841  which were quite attractive inside DSCN7843  here are the deer, elk really (red deer) grazing in their enclosure DSCN7844  the deer pen alongside the stream DSCN7845  how many species of free ranging animals can you see here?
DSCN7847  a second yurt encampment down valley DSCN7848  which was being freshened up DSCN7850  privy with a view DSCN7851  a velvety landscape
DSCN7852  we interviewed them too DSCN7853  more necropoli - I don't think that this is very orthodox Islam DSCN7854  tombs on the range 2013-07-24 08.51.19  Before leaving on the helicopter, we visited an art gallery(!)- I liked the composition
2013-07-24 08.58.14  Note the format of the horse: you will set in later in the Altai DSCN7855  We flew back to Bishkek and in the PM I would continue on to Moscow and then Barnaul in Altaisk Krai, Russia. This is the Naryn River near the helipad DSCN7856  the arch site DSCN7857  and then passage over the red mountain going north
DSCN7858  the valley to the west DSCN7859  rather densely settled, really DSCN7861  towns set amidst arid hills DSCN7862  that slowly green up with elevation and northern exposure
DSCN7863  quite clearly seen here DSCN7864  better pastures DSCN7865  and even some tree: one wonders if it is just climate that excludes trees on the rolling terrain DSCN7866  over one pass and into the next valley
DSCN7867  over the next pass DSCN7868  and into yet another valley DSCN7869  quite a bit broader a valley DSCN7870  with very interesting land surface patterns
DSCN7871  upturned strata DSCN7872  fractal erosional forms DSCN7873  note that we are really really high (for a helicopter) DSCN7875  we climbed to nearly 19'000 feet (unpressurized cabin) in order to fly in clear air over the mountain tops
DSCN7877  barns in mountain valley DSCN7879  field patterns as we approach Bishkek DSCN7880  the main artery of Kyrgyzstan DSCN7882  a bit like the Front Range, but bigger and closer
DSCN7884  Bishkek as an analogue to Denver DSCN7885  even a nice lake as we approached the airport DSCN7886  not much development around it as it is probably filled with drainage water